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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

Hi Marksudark - I am trying to work on a pen set-up like the person who bonded Dono & Maryann did and I have some questions. I can't find the post where you talked about it - it's not in the actual bonding post is it because I didn't see it there.

I'm trying to bond Cupcake, my 3-legged foster, with another older male and she's a spitfire much like Maryann. Buttonz, the male I am bonding her with is about 2 years old and when I put him in the pen with her, he just sits terrified. Well, he knows she's going to come after him, even after the car rides so I want to try your set-up.

I am going to use the neat idea cubes attached to the pen. I have to figure out how many squares - I'm thinking I can only do 2 but I know it's got to be in the configuration.

Do you know how Dono figured all this out and how it actually stopped Maryann from continuing antagonzing Dono.

My last 2 bonds were such a breeze, this one is much more of a challenge :~) I'm calling the bonding pen, the torture chamber - at least for Buttonz - the poor guy hates to see me coming and he constantly thumps. Nothing wears Cupcake down and it all wears Buttonz down. I think part of her problem is that she is still very young and active and bossy. It's funny because she is so sweet with people, but obviously a terror to other rabbits.

Hee hee, no problem. Sarita, I hope you don't mind but I am going to pin this discussion at the top to be sure Marksudark sees it.

MarkBunRichmond, CA

2825 posts

4/07/2008 5:49 AM

Well the main credit to the bond has to go to Marcy at Save A Bunny as she took over the role of Alpha bun. Her stern tone and hand helped to quell maryann's behaviors. If a fight started out, they both went into the carrying case and onto the dryer. The pen set up was where they actually stayed together - they didn't go back into seperate cages afterwards.

The reason for the L pen is that for some reason aggressive buns tend to stop their pursuit if it involves turning corners. I know that sounds wierd but without a direct charge lane or place to circle freely, they have to be more careful about their movements. The other thing that is very difficult for bunny parents is to allow the fighting to go on. They need to work out the dominance issue and the only way to do that for some is via combat. The trick is to know when to intercede. If you give them enough space to move around (such as in a pen), usually they can get away if needed. It is only when they both stand their ground and begin to rear up and go at it that I break it up, but even then I let it go on for a couple of seconds. It may sound cruel but I do know that Maryann seemed to be nicer to Dono when he finally had enough of her, turned and fought back. Of course any squeal is an immediate stopping point. You can also use the water bottle and/or loud clapping to try and stop them without physically getting involved.

Tough bonding sessions are more grueling on the parents than the kids.

That's very interesting about the aggressive behavior. I'm anxious to try this L pen method.

I have homes for these 2 so the sooner I can get them bonded the quicker I can get them in their new home.

I don't mind too much the fighting going on for a little while - basically it's just Cupcake bullying Buttonz and he's twice her size but it's wearing the poor bun down. I usually do the loud clapping or rattle the pen when I wanted Cupcake to stop. I do wish that Buttonz would respond in other ways rather than running that just excites her to chase him.

Did she have any litterboxes in the pen when she did this?

I agree that bonding is more stressful for us than them too.

KokaneeandkahluaEdmonton, Alberta; Canada

Forum Leader

11645 posts

4/07/2008 6:24 AM

*embarassed* I really want to figure out how to make a bunny muzzle!! Rupert and Kokanee latched on once and they both had boo-boos requiring neosporin...how do we know if they are working it out or trying to kill each other? darn bunnies not getting along!

Kokanee & Chuck My Bridge Bunnies-you left paw prints on my heart

MarkBunRichmond, CA

2825 posts

4/07/2008 7:18 AM

I heard that Heather at the rabbit haven once invented a rabbit muzzle for one bun but it really didn't work too well. I'm not sure about how to tell if they're trying to kill one another or just sorting things out - it is more of an instinctual telling. Sorry that doesn't help.

Oh, there was only one litterbox but sometimes we'd remove it if they became territorial about it.

yes that is my problem too when to break it up I do it right away however if someone has pointers let me know Itty Bitty Feda is only 3 mos right now and i have not really been working on bonding. when cotton gets into the bedroom and they have a tiff between the bars and he does walk away after a bit. so confusing to me. yesterday when they got to each other furr flew some and cotton was humping feda and she was trying to get away and I grabbed cotton feda does fight back but I don't want this to be a habit between them. I am waiting to work with them on bonding when she is older and fixed I am so relieved Cotton is snipped tho I tell you or baby buns might be on the way. phew. dont' need that it is hard work when those accidents occur and they start hopping out of the nest box argh

Sarita(Dallas)

Forum Leader

18277 posts

4/08/2008 4:45 AM

Well humping is perfectly okay - it's annoying to us - best to let her get away if she can. You do have to be careful though with her because she is so young and you don't want he to get hurt. When the fur flew, was there chasing or was it a full flung fight? You don't want a full flung fight - chasing is okay but you do have to stop this eventually too. You always want to end each session on a positive note.

Cupcake, my female, is the instigator and chaser in my current bonding quest.

Sarita(Dallas)

Forum Leader

18277 posts

4/09/2008 4:08 AM

Well, I finally got this set-up last night and did my first bonding in their new pen set-up - I used neat idea cubes to make the L-shape. It definitely is an interesting set-up and it did help deter Cupcake some. She did of course keep chinning the neat idea cubes. Buttonz still hates the whole bonding torture sessions - Cupcake keeps chasing but he is "fighting" back - they don't actually fight, just chase and jump over each other. She does pull quite a bit of fur out though. After about an hour Cupcake did finally calm down though. She is a relentless little rabbit.

I wish I had more time to spend bonding than a few hours at night and on the weekends. But it's not possible working full-time and taking care of the other buns.

babybunsmumWaterloo ON Canada

3872 posts

4/09/2008 4:35 AM

working for a living does cut your time down a bit i find . i'm not married yet so i still have hopes of being a kept woman to free up my schedule. (jk)

i'm def going to try this set up with my 2 gals when we get started officially. do you think they're both trying for top bun? or does cupcake's chasing get it all going?

I like work. It fascinates me. I sit and look at it for hours.

Sarita(Dallas)

Forum Leader

18277 posts

4/09/2008 5:57 AM

I actually think it's just Cupcake - Buttonz just wants to be left alone :~)

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